Pipe wrench



June 22 1926.v v 1,589,163

P. RATCLIFF PIPE WRENCH Filed Sept. 1. 1925 Patented June 22, 1926-.

. Ulrlillfl) STATES 1,589,763 P 'l E 'l FFI-CE :PAUL RATCLIFF, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNORDF .ONE-HALF VT .RICHARD GLLUM, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

PIPE -VRENCEL Application filed September 1, 1925. Serial No. 53,886.

wrench of this nature, having means where by the wrench may be accurately adjusted, knowing the size of the pipe, without first actually applying the wrench to the pipe.

A still further important object of the in-V vention is to provide a pipe wrench of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, strong, durable, ei'iicient and reliable in use, not likely to easily become out of order, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in View as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the wrench embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is another elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section on the enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that 1 designates a handle having a fixed jaw 2 coextensive therewith, and pro-I vided on its extremity with a serrated block 3. The numeral 4 designates a movable jaw provided with the elongated angularly disposed shank 5. On the jaw 4 there is provided a serrated block 6 for cooperation with the serrated block 3 in order that a pipe may be received therebetween. One edge of the shank is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 7. A frame B includes plates 8 and 9 having fixed between adjacent ends a toothed member 10, by means of rivets 11, or the like. The plates 8 and 9 are pivot-ed on opposite sides of the jaw 2 by a pivot pin or the like 12. The plate 8 has an extension 13 with an opening 14 therein. A pin l5 is slidable through the jaw 2 for engagement in the opening 14. A lever 16 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 17 in a recess provided in the jaw 2 as is indicated at 16, and

Suitable indicia indicated at 21 is marked on the shank 5 of the movable jaw yfor indieating in conjunction with the -straight edge 22 of the plate 9, the distance between the serrated blocks 3 and 6. A leaf spring 24 has one end attached as at 25 to the yjawv 2, while the other end thereof engages the-free end portion of the shank 5. A fulcrufm protrudance 26 is provided on-the1ixed jaw 2, and engages one edge of the shank 5, as is indicated to advantage in Figures l and 2, so that the spring 24 rocks the shank 5 so that the serrations on the blocks 3 and 6 will tend to grip the pipe as the wrench is moved in one direction, and will tend to slip over the pipe as the wrench is moved in the other direction. This action of the jaws is well known in this art.

`When the pin 15 is engaged in the opening 14, and the parts are situated as shown in Figure 2 it will be seen that when the handle is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the movable jaw is prevented from swinging in relation to the fixed jaw by the toothed member engaging one of the ratchet teeth 7, but as the handle is swung in the clockwise direction, the fixed jaw tends to fulcrum on the fulcrum 26 so that the serrations slip over the pipe. If it is desired to adjust the movable jaw toward or away lfrom the fixed jaw, the pin is removed from the opening 14 as heretofore indicated, and the frame B is swung toward the handle 2, thereby releasing the toothed member 10 from the teeth 7, so that the desired adjustment may be easily made.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will now be apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention` has been disclosed in detail since in actual Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new is 1. A Wrench of the class described including, in combination, a fixed jaw, a frame pivoted on the fixed jaw, a pin slidable through the fixed jaw and engageable in an opening provided in the frame holding said frame rigid to the fixed jaw, said frame being provided with an interiorly extending tooth, a shank slidable through the vframe and provided with teeth engageable by the first mentioned tooth, and a movable jaw on the shank.

2. A Wrench of the class described including, in combination, a fixed jaw, a frame pivoted on the fixed iaw, a pin slidable through the fixed jaw and engageable in an opening provided in the frame holding said frame rigid to the fixed jaw, said frame being provided with an interiorly extending tooth, a shank slidable through the frame and provided with teeth engageable by the first mentioned tooth, a movable j avv on the shank, and a springl having one end fixed to the fixed jaw, and the other end engageable with the shank for holding said shank obliquely to the fixed jaw.

3. A Wrench of the class described including, in combination, a fixed aw, a frame pivotally mounted on the fixed jaw and provided with an interiorly extending tooth, a shank extending through the frame and having a series of teeth engageable by the first tooth, a jaw on the shank for association With the first mentioned jaw, said frame provided with an opening, a pin slidably piercing the fixed jaw, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the fixed Jaw, and having one end engageable with the pin and a spring associated With the other end of the lever for normally holding said pin engaged in the opening of the frame. so that said frame is rigid With said fixed iaW.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PAUL RATCLIFF. 

